JOHN RANKIN admits he could barely keep his eyes open after knocking Queen of the South out of the League Cup.

Now he wants to catch Caley Thistle sleeping in today’s SPL clash.

Rankin was one of those exhausted United stars who didn’t get back home until the early hours of Wednesday morning following their hard-fought victory over the Second Division side that booked their place in the quarter-finals.

Peter Houston’s men have clocked up the miles this week with a lenghty trip down to Dumfries on Tuesday.

And they are now preparing to head to the other end of the country with a visit to the Highland capital to take on Terry Butcher’s Jags.

Rankin said: “The travelling has been difficult this week.

“We had boys getting home at 2am after the cup match. It’s not easy.

“However, we’re buzzing again after winning in the cup and are raring to go at Caley Thistle.”